Hantuchova loses to Likhovtseva

Russian veteran Elena Likhovtseva upset eighth-seeded Daniela Hantuchova 6-4, 7-6 (3) in the first round of the Hastings Direct International on Monday.

Reported by Indo-Asian News Service

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Eastbourne:
Russian veteran Elena Likhovtseva upset eighth-seeded Daniela Hantuchova 6-4, 7-6 (3) in the first round of the Hastings Direct International on Monday.
Hantuchova, runner-up to Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2004, dropped the last three games of the first set and the last four games of the second, as Likhovtseva converted all five of her break chances.
Nathalie Dechy set up an all-French clash with top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo by overcoming Shahar Peer of Israel 6-1, 6-4.
Ai Sugiyama of Japan advanced while leading 7-6 (5), 4-6, 5-1 when Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia retired with an injured right thumb.
Sugiyama failed to serve out the opening set at 5-4, but won the tiebreaker.
Srebotnik won a second set, which included six service breaks, but fell heavily when down 3-1 in the third and retired shortly after.
"It's never nice to finish a match in that way. It was a good match before she hurt her hand. I hope she's okay for Wimbledon next week. I was pretty happy with the way I played today," she said.
Sixth-seeded Francesca Schiavone of Italy beat British wild card Katie O'Brien 6-3, 6-1 in the grass-court event.
The final warm-up tournament before Wimbledon includes the world's top three ranked players, Mauresmo, defending champion Kim Clijsters and fellow Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne.
Kuznetsova is seeded fourth. All have first-round byes. (AP)